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I was speaking with the new Training Chair for our District last night. He told me that he doesn t want the same people giving the same training time after

Message 1 of 7
, Aug 6 9:52 AM

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I was speaking with the new Training Chair for our District last
night. He told me that he doesn't want the same people giving the
same training time after time -- that he wants a pool of trainers
to call upon, to give the different trainings.

I have a few problems with this approach -- most of them practical
rather than personal.

1. The requires a larger pool of trainers
2. The person who can moderate an excellent BS-BLT may not be able
to moderate (TDC)TTT or TCC well at all.
3. Some people don't like to moderate certain trainings.
4. Most of us don't like to be moved around that often.
5. Not very many trainers are suited to certain subjects -- like
YPT.

I'm interested in hearing any discussion on this issue.

YiS,

Chuck Bramlet -- Phoenix, Az. ----- mailto:antelope95@...
I "used to be" an Antelope! WEM-10-95 Member DNRC
Firebird District Committee Member at Large -- Grand Canyon Council
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"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing"
-- Stephen R. Covey
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Mullaney, Peter [AMSTA-AR-WES]

My guess is that he doesn t want the courses to become stale. If you do the same course over and over again do you have the same enthusiasm the tenth time you

Message 2 of 7
, Aug 6 10:10 AM

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My guess is that he doesn't want the courses to become stale.
If you do the same course over and over again do you have the
same enthusiasm the tenth time you do it as compared to the
first time you did it? I'm not saying this is right, only that
this may be what he is thinking. Perhaps he got this from course
feedback, or personal experience? Have you discussed your points
(below) with him?

I was speaking with the new Training Chair for our District last
night. He told me that he doesn't want the same people giving the
same training time after time -- that he wants a pool of trainers
to call upon, to give the different trainings.

I have a few problems with this approach -- most of them practical
rather than personal.

1. The requires a larger pool of trainers
2. The person who can moderate an excellent BS-BLT may not be able
to moderate (TDC)TTT or TCC well at all.
3. Some people don't like to moderate certain trainings.
4. Most of us don't like to be moved around that often.
5. Not very many trainers are suited to certain subjects -- like
YPT.

I'm interested in hearing any discussion on this issue.

YiS,

Chuck Bramlet -- Phoenix, Az. ----- mailto:antelope95@...
I "used to be" an Antelope! WEM-10-95 Member DNRC
Firebird District Committee Member at Large -- Grand Canyon Council

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dave Loomis

While freshness can be an advantage, you end up reinventing the wheel each training session, as you re-staff the sessions. When I was doing the old Six

Message 3 of 7
, Aug 6 10:35 AM

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While freshness can be an advantage, you end up reinventing the
wheel each training session, as you re-staff the sessions. When I was
doing the old Six Session BS Leader Training and the new Venturing
training, I was fortunate to have experts in most of the subjects being
taught, and I used them in their specialty. I figured it would not be
too efficient to use my prime outdoor cooking specialist to teach unit
financial tools and my CPA to teach outdoor cooking, but, as always,
YMMV. My reasons seem much like those you listed.

If you don't chose to go this way, you end up like the old Wood
Badge course that took up to six months of staff preparation before the
course even started, as you train each prospective trainer in his
presentation and training methods.

Dave

Scouter Chuck wrote:

> I was speaking with the new Training Chair for our District last
> night. He told me that he doesn't want the same people giving the
> same training time after time -- that he wants a pool of trainers
> to call upon, to give the different trainings.
>
> I have a few problems with this approach -- most of them practical
> rather than personal.
>
> I'm interested in hearing any discussion on this issue.
>
> YiS,
>
> Chuck Bramlet

I would LOVE to have a larger pool of trainers. Any ideas on recruiting some more?? I am the Cub training chair for our district. I feel the same way about

Message 4 of 7
, Aug 6 10:49 AM

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I would LOVE to have a larger pool of trainers. Any
ideas on recruiting some more??

I am the Cub training chair for our district. I feel
the same way about trainers. I would love to have 3
or 4 or 5 folks who could each each of the
cub-specific courses. I'm OK on NLE, but if I had a
pool of trainers, I could likely get two per course
with no problem. Right now, it seems like pulling
teeth. I would not have anyone teach a course he/she
did not want to. However, if I did not have someone
to cover a particular course (e.g. Webelos), I would
like to be able to ask someone else (e.g. Cubmaster).
It's not a job where you would be required to do
something. It's not like I have 10 people knocking
down my door to be a trainer.

I agree that not everyone is suited to or wants to
teach every course. However, it's good sometimes to
get out of your comfort zone.

Burnout is a factor... We try and keep jobs to 2 or
at the nost 3 years. (At least the chairs.) After
that, burnout sets in and you are not as good.
Trainers are a little different, but if I had 5 people
who could do, say Webelos, you would do it once/year
OR maybe I could offer the course 3x instead of
2x/year.

> I would LOVE to have a larger pool of trainers. Any
> ideas on recruiting some more??

Brant,

I stepped out from under my training hat about:
2 years back for Cub Basics
1.5 years back for BALOO
1 year back for Cub RT
but when I was actively involved, the best trainers we
had in my immediate area each had something in common.
Each began quite small, say a 10-15 minute segment of
a course or 1/3 to 1/2 of the old leader breakout
sessions, or even smaller, bringing and leading one
skit, song or game to Roundtable.

Those who had a lot of fun or got bit by the training
bug and wanted to be more involved were able to do so,
either by taking on a larger segment or helping more
often. Those who enjoyed helping but needed to limit
their involvement (job constraints, spousal
constraints, time weith family, whatever) could be
counted on to come back again for a single segment,
some for only one 15 minute segment a year, but they
did it well and with energy, and that's what was
important.

It was more work on me in recruiting and scheduling,
but it was worth it. Our sessions were enjoyable, and
several times I was able to hold myself to the
pre-organization, intros and some pizazz items. And if
someone's wee one went ill on the morn of training
day, I was free to jump in instead of figure out how
to fit in yet another session.

'Start Small' though was how I originally slid under a
trainer's hat myself so it was very natural to
continue the tradition once I knew I was bit.

> He told me that he doesn't want the same people giving the
> same training time after time -- that he wants a pool of trainers
> to call upon, to give the different trainings.
>
>

In our district, we are able to make this approach work. We have a large
district. Geographically, we cover two whole counties, and a sliver of a third.
There are approximately 95 units in the district of
which 45-50 are packs, approx. 30 are troops and the remainder are crews. We
have approximately 40-50 individuals on the district training team,
responsible for NLE, Cub Scout and Boy Scout Position Specific courses, Den Chief
training, YPT, BALOO, WLOT, and IOLS. Venturing training is done on a council level.
Trainers are assigned to the Cub Scout or Boy Scout sections, primarily by
unit affiliation (but not necessarily). In general, members of the Commissioner
Corps are not recruited as trainers, although we have some. At our large mass
sessions in Fall & Spring, we make a point of having a Venturing unit adult
leader as a NLE presenter, in addition to Cub Scout and Boy Scout presenters (we
like the idea that it reinforces the continuum of Scouting)

We conduct NLE and YPT 7-8 times (each) during a September through June
program year. We teach Troop Committee Challenge 3-4 times, SM/ASM twice, Cub Scout
PST 7 times, IOLS/BALOO/WLOT on a single weekend once (we hope to make this
twice, soon), and Den Chief training once. On occasion we also present a
district level JLT. In addition, we will present NLE, YPT, or any position specific
course (except SM/ASM) on a unit level with one month's notice. We end up
doing 6-8 additional sessions of this type each year. We are also hoping to
conduct some supplemental training this year on our mega training days. As you can
see, providing this level of training with 10-15 individuals would be deadly
for the trainers, if not logistically impossible.

How do we make it work? We look out for individuals who show up at RT, and
other events who are articulate and knowledgeable, and invite them to be
trainers. If they say no, we ask again in a couple months. We emphasize that they are
not making a commitment to every course date, but only one or two. We
recognize them with certificates and public appreciation at roundtable and other
events (district dinner). Every individual who trains for me gets a personal
hand written thank you note after each session s/he teaches. We provide them with
syllabuses far in advance, so they can prepare. They "apprentice" as second
chair trainers with an experienced trainer. We conduct our own district level
TDC. We have a couple "Presentation Gurus" who help with A/V, so the trainers
don't have to worry about equipment.

This year's training schedule was created last February and has been
published for several months.
However, the first question I will be asked when I walk into Roundtable in
September will be - "When can I get my new leaders trained?". My answer will
be: "Any time you want".

... Chuck Bramlet ... It must be nice to have a pool of trainers adequate to satisfy the needs of this District Training Chair. We have one or two such

Message 7 of 7
, Aug 6 12:17 PM

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Scouter Chuck wrote:

>I was speaking with the new Training Chair for our District last
>night. He told me that he doesn't want the same people giving the
>same training time after time -- that he wants a pool of trainers
>to call upon, to give the different trainings.
>
>I have a few problems with this approach -- most of them practical
>rather than personal.
>
>1. The requires a larger pool of trainers
>2. The person who can moderate an excellent BS-BLT may not be able
> to moderate (TDC)TTT or TCC well at all.
>3. Some people don't like to moderate certain trainings.
>4. Most of us don't like to be moved around that often.
>5. Not very many trainers are suited to certain subjects -- like
> YPT.
>
>I'm interested in hearing any discussion on this issue.
>
>YiS,
>

Chuck Bramlet

>
>

It must be nice to have a pool of trainers adequate to satisfy the needs
of this District Training Chair.
We have one or two such districts in our council. Most of us have a
handful of 'old faithfuls' and the rare emergence of a new energetic
person willing to become a part of the team.

My #1 goal has always been quality over quantity. Our council SE has
mandated four consecutive September NLE / LST Saturday sessions in each
district. That's a practical impossibility for us. We just don't have
that many dedicated and qualified people; they certainly aren't willing
to give up four consecutive Saturdays in one month. This is year 3 of
that mandate. So far my district has managed ONE quality session in
each of the past two years. This year our new District Training Chair
is trying for more, including two Sunday 1-5 sessions to accommodate
those who work Saturdays. Problem is getting teams together and
recruiting participants.
I am a real stickler for staff development. I abhor trainers who feel
they can 'wing-it' and depend on others to 'wing it' along with them.
That's what we've had - with Basic, YPT, Fast Start, NLE, LST, and even
BALOO. When they won't take the time to plan it right, I offer my
regrets and don't participate.

Lloyd

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